Arcadia Library, Levenshulme, Manchester

Arcadia Library, Levenshulme, Manchester

The brand new Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre, Levenshulme, Manchester is now open and boasts a bright, welcoming open plan neighbourhood library interior designed and furnished by Demco Interiors.

The library is an integral part of the centre with access to a wide range of library services and PC’s with free Wifi, an exciting children’s library, comfy seating areas, study spaces and on and offline media, including books for all ages and interests.

The library is managed by Manchester Libraries and will be staffed for 30 hours a week. Library services will be available throughout the centre’s opening hours via self service.

Demco Interiors won the tender for the design and furnishings of the new library and some adjacent spaces in the Leisure Centre.

Over the past ten years Manchester Libraries have carried out a renewal programme to rebuild or refresh libraries across the estate. This has allowed them to develop ÔÇÿThe Manchester Look’ an interior design theme which underpinned the brief for the interior design of the new Arcadia library.

Michaela Lancaster, Head of Design and Products, Demco Interiors said: ÔÇ£Before submitting our proposal we reviewed the original refurbishments so that we had a good understanding of the principles underlying the Manchester Look. We then introduced some key features to give the Arcadia Library its own personality and create a unique destination for members of the Levenshulme community.ÔÇØ

Although an open plan space, Demco’s design used colours and intelligent use of contemporary furnishings to create discrete, but clearly zoned children, adult, teen and IT areas. Circulation routes between the zones balance library shelving, study tables and seating in an intuitive, customer friendly way and are, of course, DDA compliant. A blend of shelving, computers and seating areas allows visitors to find and use their own space within the library making it a welcoming and informal environment. All furnishings meet the high specification required for a demanding public space with a high footfall.

Exciting new features, guaranteed to attract the attention of parents and children, include the funky bespoke children’s bright pink curved seating with built in shelving to create pockets of stock. While for adults bespoke seating and study positions for BYOD users make the best use of space by being placed around structural columns.

Demco’s promotional and quick pick display units are placed strategically to attract the attention of visitors both inside and outside the library space.

The library was completed on budget and within the requested programme schedule. Compliments were paid to the Demco Interiors installation team for their hard work and conscientious approach to ensure that the installation caused minimal disruption to site and was completed on time.

The team at Manchester Libraries are delighted with the new library which has attracted interest from the press and public. The Levenshulme community finally have a modern library space which blends seamlessly into the wider leisure area creating a single destination for a mind and body experience!